Rock 01 - FRET by Sandrine Gasq-DIon Read Free Book Online Page A

gun. Gareth’s hand slipped over mine and our eyes met.
    “It’s just Dagger, Axel. He’s the Black Ice lead singer.”
    Wary hazel eyes met mine and then Dagger smiled. I could see the attraction for Gareth. The guy was completely hot.
    “And who is this?” Dagger pointed slightly to me, as if he were afraid to be obvious about it. Yeah, as if I wouldn’t notice.
    “He’s my bodyguard, Dagger,” Gareth announced, emphasizing it with an eye roll.
    “Well, now. I’m sure you love having that body guarding yours.” Dagger winked and grinned.
    Was everyone gay? Poor Ransom must have felt left out, being the only straight guy at the moment. Come to think of it, I guess he wasn’t aware of that. I smiled to myself.
    “How’s Ryan?” Gareth asked.
    “He’s perfect.” Dagger took Gareth by his shoulders and hugged him. I wanted to slap the dude for touching him at all.
    Fuck.
    “It’s good to see you guys again. We’ve got you set up right on the side of the stage, so enjoy the show.”
    “Thanks, Dagger!”
    I placed my gun back in my waistband as Gareth moved toward his seat. I’m not against heavy metal, but it isn’t my first choice of music. Sometimes I just like something easygoing in the background. Don’t judge me.
    I stood behind Gareth after he sat down beside Ransom.
    “You can sit, ya know.” Gareth indicated the chair beside him.
    “I’m better on my feet. Don’t worry about me, and just enjoy yourself.”
    For almost two hours, I was treated to loudest rock I have ever heard. Although, come to think of it, the Skull Blasters concert had been just as loud.
    I’m starting to feel old at this point.
    Once the concert ended, Gareth hugged the band members and his brother. They were going out to party but Gareth insisted he just wanted to go home. Thankfully, the band had a guard escort us out and we were able to leave the crowded parking lot before anyone else. I watched the city fly by through the passenger window. Gareth took the 17 north and I relaxed in the seat, keeping an eye on cars behind us and at our sides. Once we got out of the city, I was able to relax fully. Gareth was concentrating on the road.
    “So.” I eyed his attire. “Is that how you normally go out?”
    “Meaning?”
    “I think those Converse died about a year ago.”
    I swear it had to be a miracle of physics that they stayed on his feet. They were holey on both sides and I think the soles were falling off. His jeans were about the same. The knees were gone and hanging by threads to the rest of his pants.
    “These are my comfy clothes.”
    “Do you not go shopping?”
    Gareth sighed and snuck a peek at me. The dashboard light illuminated the side of his face and I couldn’t help but enjoy his plump lips, and the way his hair curled around his ear.
    “Ransom and I didn’t have a lot of money growing up. We got most of our clothes from the Goodwill. Dad worked part time at the Purina plant and Mom was a teacher. We were used to having something semi-new once or twice a year. We always had food on the table, but our wardrobe suffered. We were made fun of a lot, you know? I mean the other guys in the band were in the same position as us. None of our families had a lot of money, which is why we were all so close.”
    “But now you can afford to get new clothing.”
    “Yes, we can. I don’t know. I think it’s ingrained in us not to go crazy with money. Like, maybe someday we won’t have enough and we’ll be right back where we were.” Gareth eyed me sideways. “What about you?”
    “What about me?”
    “What was your childhood like?”
    “Normal military brat childhood.”
    “Okay, explain to this mere civilian what that means.”
    “You’re never in one place for too long. I moved every three years until I actually joined the Navy myself. My dad was gone a lot and he couldn’t talk about where he’d been.”
    “Did you have friends at least?”
    “What was the point? If I made any I’d have to